Overall activity during the 2007 Atlantic hurricane season was near average. There were 15 tropical and subtropical named storms, 6 of which became hurricanes, with 2 becoming major hurricanes (Category 3 or greater on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale). For the 40-year period from 1967-2006, the averages for named storms, hurricanes, and major hurricanes are 11, 6, and 2, respectively. Even though the number of named storms was above average, including a record-tying eight storms that formed in September, many of these storms were short-lived. In terms of the NOAA Accumulated Cyclone Energy (ACE) index, which measures the collective strength and duration of named storms and hurricanes, the season produced about 84 percent of the 1951-2000 median activity. This percentage is the lowest observed since 2002.
Despite the near-average overall activity, the impacts from Atlantic basin tropical cyclones were devastating outside of the United States. Two Category 5 hurricanes made landfall in the basin during the season. Dean struck the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico at Category 5 strength in August and soon thereafter came ashore in mainland Mexico as a Category 2 hurricane. Felix then hit northeastern Nicaragua as a Category 5 hurricane in early September. Hurricane Lorenzo later struck mainland Mexico in nearly the same location as Dean’s final landfall. Late-season Noel and post-season Olga dumped heavy rains that caused flooding, mudslides, and great loss of life in the Caribbean. The combined international death toll from tropical cyclones during 2007 was about 380. One hurricane, one tropical storm, and three tropical depressions made landfall in the United States during 2007, causing a total of 10 fatalities and about $50 million in damages.
—RICHARD KNABB and MICHELLE MAINELLI are hurricane specialists at the National Hurricane Center in Miami, Florida. The cyclone summaries are based on Tropical Cyclone Reports prepared by the authors and the other hurricane specialists at the National Hurricane Center: Jack Beven, Eric Blake, Daniel Brown, James Franklin, Richard Knabb, Michelle Mainelli, and Richard Pasch.
